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For us, mere mortals, Mars is a no man's land where survival seems like a distant dream. After all, no man has ever walked on its surface (as far as we know) and plans to send one to the red planet are only in the early stages of its development. However, humans have touched Mars through the durable wheels of Mars rovers. We've had 4 successful robotically operated Mars rovers (all of which were managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA) so far: Sojourner, Opportunity, Spirit, and Curiosity. 

As Opportunity's mission was declared complete on February 13, 2019 when NASA lost all contact with the vehicle, Curiosity became the lone survivor on the red planet, rolling over its surface to examine and explore the unknown land all by itself. The spacecraft first landed on Mars on August 6, 2012 and started carrying out its objectives throughout the years. In fact, Curiosity did its job so well and held on for so long that its original mission duration of 687 days was expanded indefinitely. 

Here's how Curiosity looked 7 years ago and now

Curiosity is approaching its 8 year anniversary on Mars and while it is currently the only functional rover on the planet (after we all, unfortunately, had to say goodbye to Oppy), NASA has plans to send it some company in the shape of Mars 2020 rover. The 2020 mission is scheduled to start on 17 July to 5 August 2020 when the rocket carrying the rover will be launched. NASA also announced a student naming contest for the rover that was held in the fall of 2019. The final name will be announced in early March 2020, so we definitely have something to look forward to!

#3

Curiosity Rover Finds And Examines A Meteorite On Mars

Curiosity Rover Finds And Examines A Meteorite On Mars

NASA Report

#4

Curiosity's Color View Of Martian Dune After Crossing It

Curiosity's Color View Of Martian Dune After Crossing It

NASA Report

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ngaerewoodford avatar
NWB
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is so amazing that we can get these amazing images now!

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#5

Martian Rock 'Harrison' In Color, Showing Crystals

Martian Rock 'Harrison' In Color, Showing Crystals

NASA Report

#7

Jake Matijevic Rock

Jake Matijevic Rock

NASA Report

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chuckdonaldson_1 avatar
Chuck Donaldson
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There’s a lot going on here - and a lot has happened here. Look it up! It’s not just another rock. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Matijevic_(rock)

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#9

First Sampling Hole In Mount Sharp

First Sampling Hole In Mount Sharp

NASA Report

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kiafar avatar
MrTir
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It just looks.. like if you planted something it grows, like it could be from the woods close by, but it is literally millions of miles away

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#10

Curiosity Took Dozens Of Mast Cam Images To Complete This Mosaic Of A Petrified Sand Dune

Curiosity Took Dozens Of Mast Cam Images To Complete This Mosaic Of A Petrified Sand Dune

marscuriosity Report

#12

Outcrop In The Murray Buttes Region Of Lower Mount Sharp

Outcrop In The Murray Buttes Region Of Lower Mount Sharp

NASA Report

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madisonfeehan avatar
Madison Feehan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one Sphinx in the bottom right of the rocks? Certainly amazing formations!

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#14

Curiosity Self-Portrait At Martian Sand Dune

Curiosity Self-Portrait At Martian Sand Dune

NASA Report

#15

Curiosity Visited An Area Named "Fracture Town" Which Contains Many Pointed, Layered Rock Formations

Curiosity Visited An Area Named "Fracture Town" Which Contains Many Pointed, Layered Rock Formations

marscuriosity Report

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tiddlesworth avatar
Bob 2.0
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The interesting thing here is that, if there was life on mars, stuff like this would probably be collapsed from the weight moving around on it. It's fascinating to see how things form on a completely lifeless, mostly-dry planet.

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#16

Having Reached The Base Of Mount Sharp, Curiosity Captured This Image Of Its Rocky Surroundings

Having Reached The Base Of Mount Sharp, Curiosity Captured This Image Of Its Rocky Surroundings

marscuriosity Report

#17

Wheel Scuff Mark At 'Rocknest'

Wheel Scuff Mark At 'Rocknest'

NASA Report

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#18

Focusing The 100-Millimeter Mastcam

Focusing The 100-Millimeter Mastcam

NASA Report

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moconnell avatar
M O'Connell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Chrsty, Why must everything be "useful" to humanity, and all things which are not "useful" be ignored and declared useless? Stop asking "What can this do for me?" and start asking "What can I learn from this?"

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#19

Curiosity Arrived At This Active Sand Dune Named "Gobabeb", Which Is Part Of A Larger Dune Field Known As "Bagnold"

Curiosity Arrived At This Active Sand Dune Named "Gobabeb", Which Is Part Of A Larger Dune Field Known As "Bagnold"

marscuriosity Report

#20

View From Mars Orbiter Showing Curiosity Rover At 'Shaler'

View From Mars Orbiter Showing Curiosity Rover At 'Shaler'

NASA Report

#21

Mars Rover Curiosity In 'Buckskin' Selfie

Mars Rover Curiosity In 'Buckskin' Selfie

NASA Report

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lmcn avatar
L McN
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO CLOSE...you can ALMOST see the entire arm for the camera that takes it's self portraits. I don't know about you, but I would love to see a few stills without them editing anything, leave the arm in place.

frothschild avatar
Felix Rothschild
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the unedited images are all accessible via nasas website, its literally thousands. Its obvious they use aesthetically pleasing composites for communication on social media tho.

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Qrama Sörensen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Curiosity has sent over 460 000 pictures from Mars back to earth. Don't worry about a few selfies Rahul. That amazing rover has earned the right to take some kick a*s pictures of itself with another world as a background.

rockingham15 avatar
Jim Prendergast
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this is actually a selfie of the rover I have 1 question.....WHO TOOK IT?

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qrama avatar
Qrama Sörensen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've read anwers in other comments here. Copy paste: "It takes multiple pictures and what we see is a composite! Imagine if you took two pictures of yourself, one holding the camera with the right hand and the other with your left one, then combined the halves of two pictures to make one where you can't see your extended arms! Voila!"

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djfxw avatar
Dan Wolfgram
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is the arm holding the camera photo shopped out? How is it taking a "Selfie" if there is no arm?

qrama avatar
Qrama Sörensen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've read anwers in other comments here. Copy paste: "It takes multiple pictures and what we see is a composite! Imagine if you took two pictures of yourself, one holding the camera with the right hand and the other with your left one, then combined the halves of two pictures to make one where you can't see your extended arms! Voila!"

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Rahul Eluri
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4 years ago

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did they sent it there to take picture of mars or itself?

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#22

Layers At The Base Of Mount Sharp

Layers At The Base Of Mount Sharp

NASA Report

#25

Curiosity Rover's View Of Alluring Martian Geology

Curiosity Rover's View Of Alluring Martian Geology

NASA Report

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khwahish-n avatar
Nea
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These pictures suddenly make me feel Mars is not that far or different.

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#26

Curiosity Self-Portrait At 'Windjana' Drilling Site

Curiosity Self-Portrait At 'Windjana' Drilling Site

NASA Report

#27

A Mudstone Rock Outcrop At The Base Of Mount Sharp

A Mudstone Rock Outcrop At The Base Of Mount Sharp

marscuriosity Report

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#29

Strata At Base Of Mount Sharp

Strata At Base Of Mount Sharp

NASA Report

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Jim Eberle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely huge amount of sedimentary rocks on Mars. Such abundance could only form if there had been a vast amount of water on the surface. Differential erosion suggests that sedimentation was episodic. Studying similar photos in the past, I have proposed that Mars experiences "atmosphere ages", not unlike Earth's "ice ages", whereby the orbit of Mars moves into a sustained pattern permitting huge quantities of CO2 ice to sublimate into the atmosphere, raising the atmospheric pressure above the triple point for water to exist in liquid form. The subsequent greenhouse effect then begins melting subsurface water ice, filling the basins, and beginning anew another episode of erosion and sedimentation.

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#30

Resistant Features In 'Pahrump Hills' Outcrop

Resistant Features In 'Pahrump Hills' Outcrop

NASA Report

Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.